Showing 277 results

Baptismal name: Francis O’Neill
Religious name: Fr. Honorius O’Neill OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 7 February 1925
Place of birth: Dublin
Name of father: Andrew O’Neill
Name of mother: Margaret O’Neill (née O’Connell)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 24 Oct. 1944
Date of first profession: 25 Oct. 1945
Date of final profession: 25 Oct. 1948
Date of ordination (as priest): 12 June 1952
Educational attainments: BA (1948)
Missionary activities: Travelled to Cape Town, South Africa, on 11 Sept. 1957
Date of death: 16 Sept. 1973
Place of death: St. Mary of the Angels Friary, Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa
Place of burial: Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa

James Jennings was born in Ballintober (or Ballintubber) in County Mayo on 12 May 1928. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1946 and took Pacificus as his religious name. He was solemnly professed as a friar in October 1950 and was ordained to the priesthood on 19 May 1955. He spent five years at University College Cork and earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Higher Diploma in Education. He served as Dean of Rochestown College in County Cork from 1955-6 and was Master of Novices in the adjoining friary from 1956-8. He filled the same role in Kilkenny Friary for a further four years. He taught at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork from 1962-4. He subsequently returned to Rochestown for three years as Vice-Rector before moving to Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal where he served as guardian (local superior) from 1970-3. There followed spells as a curate (1975-80) in Priorswood parish in County Dublin and later as spiritual director of the diocesan seminary in Carlow. He later acted as retreat master in Raheny Friary in Dublin and spent a year (1985-6) in ministry with Irish Capuchin missionaries in New Zealand. He returned to Raheny and was appointed a chaplain to Irish schools in the Dublin Archdiocese and acted as editor of ‘The Capuchin’ periodical publication. His final appointment was to Ard Mhuire Friary and Retreat House in County Donegal. He died at Ard Mhuire on 18 March 2006 and was buried in the adjoining cemetery.

Baptismal name: James Jennings
Religious name: Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 12 May 1928
Place of birth: Ballintober, County Mayo
Name of father: Patrick Jennings
Name of mother: Catherine Jennings (née Lavelle)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1946
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1947
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1950
Date of ordination (as priest): 19 May 1955
Educational attainments: BA 1st class hons. (1950); MA, 1st class hons. (1951); Higher Diploma in Education.
Date of death: 18 Mar. 2006
Place of death: Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Place of burial: Cemetery, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal

George Albert Ratigan was born in County Roscommon on 4 October 1906. He entered the Capuchin novitiate at the age of twenty-four and took Robert as his religious name. He spent the three years of his simple profession at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork and took his philosophy degree from University College Cork. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar on 4 October 1934. Following four years of theological study at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal, he was ordained to the priesthood in St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on 19 June 1938. His first assignment was in Kilkenny (1938-41) which was followed by two years with the Church Street community in Dublin. He returned to Kilkenny in 1943 and he remained there until 1952. He volunteered for missionary work in the Irish Capuchin custody in the United States in 1955. He did parish supply work in several parishes on the East Coast of the United States while stationed at St. Patrick’s Friary in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1964 he spent some time at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, California. From there he went to St. Joseph’s Parish in Oregon. He also conducted missions and was active in parish work in Ukiah, California, and in Roseburg, Oregon. He returned to Ireland in 1969 and was appointed once again to Kilkenny where he remained until his death on 1 February 1983. He was buried in the Capuchin plot in Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny.

Baptismal name: George Albert Ratigan
Religious name: Fr. Robert Ratigan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 4 Oct. 1906
Place of birth: Rathmore South, Kilbride, County Roscommon (Diocese of Elphin)
Name of father: Michael Ratigan
Name of mother: Catherine Ratigan (née Doyle)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1930
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1931
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1934
Date of ordination (as priest): 19 June 1938
Educational attainments: BA (1934)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in 1955. He returned to Ireland in 1969.
Date of death: 1 Feb. 1983
Place of death: Kilkenny
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny

Joseph Francis Brunton was born in Kilkenny on 19 March 1894. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in September 1911 and took Ambrose as his religious name. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 March 1919 in Cork. Following his ordination, he volunteered for missionary work in the United States in 1920. His initial ministry was in Roseburg in Oregon. In 1923 he became the first Irish Capuchin pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Willits, Mendocino County, in California. In 1929 he spent a short period of time with Fr. Joseph Fenlon OFM Cap. at St. Francis parish in Los Angeles. From there he went to the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk, Mendocino County, in California, where he served as pastor. Illness forced him to temporarily retire from ministry and to recuperate with the community at Mission Santa Inés near Solvang in California. In 1954, he was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Ukiah, California. A year later he was transferred to St. Lawrence of Brindisi parish in Watts, Los Angeles. He remained in Los Angeles until his death on 8 March 1974. The renowned Irish tenor Brenda O’Dowda (1925-2002), a nephew of Fr. Ambrose, sang at his Funeral Mass which took place in St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church. He was buried in Los Angeles.

Baptismal name: Joseph Francis Brunton
Religious name: Fr. Ambrose Brunton OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 19 Mar. 1894
Place of birth: James Street, Kilkenny (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: Patrick Brunton
Name of mother: Christina Brunton (née Byrne)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1912
Date of final profession: 8 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 15 Mar. 1919
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in May 1920
Date of death: 8 Mar. 1974
Place of death: Los Angeles, California

William Leahy was born in Blackrock, Cork, on 9 February 1939. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in January 1957 and took Angelus as his religious name. He completed his postulancy and novitiate in Kilkenny. His first assignment was in the Theology House at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. After nearly three years in Donegal, he returned to Cork and worked as a cook in Rochestown College. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar on 7 April 1961. Aside from a short stint questing for the Church Street Friary in Dublin, Br. Angelus spent most of the next eighteen years working as a cook in communities in Rochestown, Ard Mhuire and Raheny. In 1980 he volunteered to travel to New Zealand where the Irish Capuchins had established a mission custody. His initial assignment was at the friary in Henderson, a suburb in Auckland. Ill-health forced his return to Ireland in 1992 and he died in the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 16 September 1992. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown, County Cork.

Baptismal name: William Leahy
Religious name: Br. Angelus Leahy OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 9 February 1939
Place of birth: Blackrock, Cork
Name of father: Michael Leahy
Name of mother: Margaret Leahy (née Deasy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 6 Jan. 1957
Date of first profession: 7 Jan. 1958
Date of final profession: 7 Apr. 1961
Missionary activities: Travelled to the New Zealand mission custody in 1980. He returned to Ireland in 1992.
Date of death: 16 Sept. 1992
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Baptismal name: William Curran
Religious name: Br. Benedict Curran OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 24 January 1914
Place of birth: Portaferry, County Down (Diocese of Down & Connor)
Name of father: William Curran
Name of mother: Isabella Curran (née Marron)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 26 July 1941
Date of first profession: 27 July 1942
Date of final profession: 27 July 1945
Date of death: 20 May 1974
Place of death: London
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny

Eamonn O’Mahony was born in Middleton, County Cork, on 30 August 1934, the son of James and Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin). He received his secondary education at the Seraphic College in Rochestown and entered the Capuchin novitiate on 3 October 1952. He took Brendan as his religious name upon joining the Order. He undertook his early academic studies in University College Cork, where he obtained a BA (1956), followed by an MA in 1957, both with first class honours. He then went to Ard Mhuire Friary near Creeslough in County Donegal for his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on 24 September 1960. From there he proceeded to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) two years later. From there he went to the University of Louvain in Belgium, where he obtained a PhD ‘Summa cum Laude’ in 1964. On his return to Ireland, he was appointed to the Chair of Philosophy in University College Cork, a professorship, his uncle, Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., had occupied before him. There followed thirty-four years of busy academic work, during which scores of students destined for the priesthood in numerous congregations and orders received their grounding in philosophical studies. After several years as a member of the Provincial Definitory (Council), he was elected Irish Capuchin Provincial Minister in 1976, and was re-elected in 1979. In the latter year, under his guidance, the Western American Capuchin Province came into being in California and Oregon. In Ireland, he oversaw the opening of the Capuchin friary in Carlow in 1977. In 1982, the friars also took charge of Gurranabraher parish in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. He continued in his role as philosophy professor in University College Cork until his retirement in 1999. He died in Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary on Father Mathew Quay in Cork on 14 September 2020. He was buried in the cemetery adjacent to Rochestown Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: Eamonn O’Mahony
Religious name: Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 Aug. 1934
Place of birth: Midelton, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: James O'Mahony (Séamus Ó Mathúna)
Name of mother: Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1952
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1953
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1956
Date of ordination (as priest): 24 Sept. 1960
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons., UCC (1956); MA, 1st class hons, UCC (1957); Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1962); PhD, Catholic University of Louvain (1964)
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1967-70, 1970-3; Provincial Minister, 1976-82
Date of death: 14 Sept. 2020
Place of death: Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Daniel Francis O’Brien was born in Cork on 8 October 1912. His early education was in the Presentation School and later in the Christian Brothers’ School on Sullivan's Quay in Cork. He was an altar server in Holy Trinity Capuchin Church on Father Mathew Quay, and he joined the Order (taking Nicholas as his religious name) in October 1929. He was awarded an MA in philosophy in University College Cork in 1934. Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1937, he continued his studies in the International Capuchin College in Rome. He obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1941 and later a Doctorate of both laws (IUD) at the Lateran Pontifical University (1943). He also obtained a Higher Diploma in Library Science from the Vatican Library in 1942. His time in Rome was inevitably marked by the hardship of the wartime shortages. From 1943 to 1947, he taught Canon Law at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. He then returned to the International College in Rome where he served as Canon Law tutor to Capuchin students. He remained in Rome until July 1949. He subsequently returned to the House of Theology at Ard Mhuire and served as a lector there for the next twenty-eight years. He was also acted as a spiritual assistant to the Third Order of St. Francis lay fraternity. He was appointed Provincial Secretary in 1967 and held this position until his death on 5 March 1980. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown, County Cork.

Baptismal name: Daniel Francis O’Brien
Religious name: Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Oct. 1912
Place of birth: 15 Castle Street, Cork
Name of father: Thomas O’Brien
Name of mother: Brigid O’Brien (née Dennehy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 10 Oct. 1937 (Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal)
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons. (1933); MA (1934); Doctorate of Canon Law (1941); Doctorate of both laws (civil and church law), (1943)
Leadership positions: Provincial Secretary, 1967-80
Date of death: 5 Mar. 1980
Place of death: Ballincollig, County Cork
Place of burial, Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

John Duggan was born in the village of Ballydehob in County Cork on 7 September 1879. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1899, took Pius as his religious name, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1907. Most of his priestly life was spent in preaching missions and retreats (in both Irish and English). In his early years, he also took part in the temperance campaign and gave missions in both Ireland and England promoting this cause. For several years he acted as a spiritual director for theology and philosophy students and was guardian (local superior) at the friaries in Rochestown and in Kilkenny (from 1913-6 and from 1931-4). During his years as member of the Church Street community in Dublin, he was director of the sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and acted as Commissary Provincial of the confraternity. He died on 29 January 1963 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Rochestown Capuchin Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: John Duggan
Religious name: Fr. Pius Duggan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 7 Sept. 1879
Place of birth: Ballydehob, County Cork
Name of father: Timothy Duggan
Name of mother: Sarah Duggan (née Connell)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 1 Oct. 1899
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1900
Date of final profession: 25 Sept. 1904
Date of ordination (as priest): 16 Mar. 1907
Date of death: 29 Jan. 1963
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork